Simon Brown always knew he wanted to become a pilot. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he discovered a second passion: meteorology.

Now, he hopes to gain experience in both fields after being selected for a 2026 Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Brown, a senior majoring in Aeronautical Science and Meteorology at the Daytona Beach Campus, and his fellow Eagle, Sophia Noriega, a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the Prescott Campus, were among 128 undergraduate students chosen for the prestigious scholarship awarded by the agency’s Education Office. This year, 829 students applied for the scholarship.  

“My goal is to commission with the NOAA Corps as a pilot after graduation,” Brown said.  “The scholarship, particularly the internship, seemed like a great way to get my foot in the door and learn about their operations.”

Brown and Noriega will each receive a two-year academic scholarship, a paid 10-week internship at a NOAA facility during the summer of 2027 and funding to attend up to two national scientific conferences.

“The Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship is one of the most competitive national awards for undergraduate STEM students,” said Jennifer Schaeffer, director of the university’s
Office of Nationally Competitive Awards and Scholar Development. “Having two Embry-Riddle students selected in the same year is remarkable and a testament to our students' dedication to research, leadership and service. The industry mentorship, hands-on research experience and professional development opportunities provided through the scholarship will further prepare them to become leaders in their fields.”

At an orientation and training program at NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, in June, Brown and Noriega met fellow scholars from around the U.S. and learned about the breadth of the agency’s work and the variety of career paths available.

Noriega, who is from Chandler, Arizona, grew up watching wildfires destroy natural lands and communities in her home state. She originally wanted to become a wildland firefighter.

“I’ve always been fascinated by wildland fires,” she said. “I love looking at the fire and smoke maps and how wildfires are monitored.”

A student-athlete on the Prescott Campus’ cross-country and track teams, Noriega now hopes to conduct research at NOAA using advanced technology, such as remote sensing, in an effort to collect data, improve the understanding of environmental and weather conditions and strengthen disaster preparedness and response.

“I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of engineering and the opportunity to be involved in a project with NOAA is exciting,” she said. “It will also help me discover what interests me to give me more direction for graduate school and my future career.”

Brown, who is from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, served on the university’s Emergency Response Team for two years and earned his emergency medical technician license. While visiting the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, he discovered the NOAA Corps.

The NOAA Corps, which has 330 to 360 commissioned officers, operates the agency’s scientific research and survey ships and aircraft, including the famous Hurricane Hunters, the planes that fly directly into massive storms.

“It’s just kind of a confluence of everything that I want to do,” said Brown.